No. 21 Mizzou hoops looks to respond to an 0-2 week in game against Oklahoma

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

If there's one thing the Mizzou men's basketball team said they know how to do, it is respond. They've done it all year long, both in wins and losses. However, in Wednesday night's game against Oklahoma, head coach Dennis Gates and company may need the biggest response they've had yet.

The Tigers had not lost two-straight through the course of the 2024-25 campaign, until last week.

Coach Gates and his team dropped a couple of games to then-No. 4 Tennessee and then-No. 10 Texas A&M. But, as the team pointed out, the important thing to notice in those two losses were just how close they were. Mizzou fell by a combined seven points against the Volunteers and the Aggies and will now look to respond against the Sooners.

"I think that's one thing we always do," forward Jacob Crew said. "I mean thing about it. It's a combined seven point loss against two of the top 10 teams. I mean, those are great teams. I mean, those are teams that are known for winning and known for basketball, so credit to them. But, I mean, we had them on their toes. I mean, we had the lead, so you could just see it. I mean, anyone who knows basketball is, obviously, going to see us as a contender. We want to go to San Antonio, that's the ultimate, end goal...We just take one game at a time."

You can watch the full press conference with Crews in the video player below.

Wednesday's game against Oklahoma is important for getting back in the win column, but also has a special meaning for Coach Gates. His younger brother, Armon Gates, is an assistant coach for the Sooners this season.

Gates was insistent on not making this game about him and his brother, as it should be about the players that take the court. However, he did mention the excitement from his parents, family, former coaches and so many more as the matchup is quickly approaching.

"I'm excited to see my brother. I hadn't seen him in a while, since our schedules are always like two ships passing in the night, right, and when I get to get the opportunity to see him, that'll be great pregame," Gates said. "But, it's still competition, no different than sibling rivalries always are. They're going to come in here wanting to win a game and we're going to be here to protect our home court, wanting to win a game."

You can watch the full press conference with Coach Gates in the video player below.

It will not be the first time that Dennis and Armon have met on opposite sideline. Gates told the media, on Tuesday, that while he was an assistant at Northern Illinois, the Huskies met Kent State while Armon was an assistant there. However, it will be the first time that the brothers have met at this level of competition.

The unranked Sooners come into Wednesday night's matchup 16-7 on the season and 3-7 in SEC play, but Gates said it's important that people know that talent that is on Oklahoma's roster this season.

"They're a great team. They were undefeated in non-conference play and every piece of the puzzle has been able to be a factor. It's not just one person. So, I just want everybody to understand that they're not who their record says they are from a conference standpoint. This is a great ball club, that's well-coached, that's balanced. They shoot the ball at a high clip, they have inside play, they have experience and this is going to be another SEC battle," Gates said.

With eight games left in the Southeastern Conference slate for MU, the next couple of months will be critical, as they look to achieve their goal of making a run in March.

Gates pointed out that through this final stretch of action, guys like guard Anthony Robinson and forward Trent Pierce will both need to step up their game. The duo has combined for just one point over the course of the last two game against Texas A&M and Tennessee.

"They got to play better and they know that," he said. "For Anthony, it's just staying out of foul trouble, figuring out how he can stay aggressive offensively and defensively without getting in foul trouble, right. Trent Pierce it's the same thing, but more so how can he continue to spark us defensively, rebounding, getting deflections, but also not just make it about three-point makes, right. There's other things he does. He connects us offensively with his great passing, he's versatile, he does a tremendous job and we just got to make sure these guys get out of their own way."

As a whole, Gates said there is still room for his team to grow this season and it starts again against Oklahoma.

Tip off against for the No. 21 Tigers against the Sooners is slated for 8 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.